Performers from the Luis Pabon Dance Arts Centre delighted the community — and boosted the Tommy Toy Fund — with a benefit musical on Saturday at Norwich Free Academy.

“Dancer the Footloose Reindeer” told the story of how Christmas was almost ruined by the mischievous Dancer and the elf manager he loved to torture, Ralph.

“The production is silly — just silly,” said John Andriso, the show’s director. “It is full of humor and high jinks, and that is what you need in a show that children are acting in and seeing.”

The show has only been performed twice, and this was the first time it has been brought to the stage on the East Coast.

“It was a very small, six-person production,” administrator Stan Voyes said. “We had to turn something small into something big. It is what we are known for.”

Many changed were made as the production developed. Voyes and center Director Luis Pabon said the music was just chords at first, and the staff had to completely choreograph routines.

The center began its annual holiday showcase in the 1970s, when the Tommy Toy Fund was first established, but in recent years it has raised money for other charities.

“We have helped many causes, but this year, with the economy in the state it is in, I was thinking it was time to go back to the Tommy Toy Fund,” Pabon said. “I have to say, it is my Christmas Day present.”

“The production isn’t just about the performances,” Voyes said. “What our production means is to give back.”

A tradition of the showcase comes at the end with a special ceremony awarding a Little Miss Christmas, Junior Miss Christmas, Mr. Christmas and Miss Christmas for raising the most money.

“We stress all the time for our students to be very passionate,” Pabon said. “They need to be there to help the people in need.”

This year, 35 students entered, and to win they had to collect the most votes, which cost $1. All participants received a trophy, but the winners were given a sash and flowers and were crowned by Miss Connecticut 2013 Kaitlyn Tarpey.

“When the holiday season comes around, it seems people are more in the spirit of giving,” Tarpey said. “What I want to remind people is to be generous after the holidays and New Year. The winter lasts more than 25 days, and we should take our time to help all year round.”